Child Care Outdoor Play Specialist (Term Position)

Be the Spark that ignites the potential in people! At our YMCA, we believe in the power of people. Every day, our dedicated employees and volunteers bring energy, positivity, and inclusivity to everything they do. They are the spark that ignites potential in others—helping individuals grow, thrive, and truly belong.

When people feel connected and supported, communities become stronger, more resilient, and full of life. That’s the impact of people-powered change. Together, we create welcoming spaces where everyone is valued, differences are celebrated, and possibilities are endless. Be the spark. Shine bright. Help others shine too.

About the Role:

The Outdoor Play Specialist is an outdoor pedagogy leader, educator coach, and change champion who works collaboratively with Educators, leaders, families, YMCA teams, and community partners to strengthen outdoor, child-led learning experiences across YMCA Child Care programs in Edmonton. 

The Outdoor Play Specialist will lead the development and implementation of a multi-year outdoor play strategy across YMCA Child Care programs. Working with educators, leaders, families, and community partners, this role will establish outdoor pedagogy standards, conduct assessments, support pilot sites, facilitate professional learning, and build sustainable systems that strengthen outdoor, child-led learning opportunities for children across YMCA programs.

This role is offered as a 16-month term position, starting on the successful candidate's first day of employment.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and support YMCA outdoor play standards, tools, resources, and best practices.


• Coach and mentor Child Care educators and leaders in outdoor pedagogy and child-led learning.


• Facilitate professional learning and capacity-building initiatives.


• Support the development of outdoor community programming and future expansion initiatives and change management.


• Lead implementation of the YMCA Outdoor Play Project and Free to Play initiative.


• Support the selection and development of pilot sites that model high-quality outdoor pedagogy.


• Conduct outdoor environment assessments and identify opportunities to enhance children's access to exploration, creativity, physical literacy, and child-led play.


• Develop practical resources and implementation tools that support educators in their daily practice.


• Assist with evaluating and refining practices before broader implementation across YMCA programs. 


• Coordinate and deliver workshops, family events and engagement opportunities, and community events.


• Build relationships with community organizations and municipal partners to create child-led outdoor program models


• Support the development of outdoor community programming and future expansion initiatives.


• Complete reporting, documentation, and evaluation activities. 


• Ensure compliance with YMCA policies, Alberta licensing requirements, and health and safety regulations.

Qualifications:

• Degree or diploma in Early Childhood Education, Education, Recreation, Environmental Education, Child and Youth Care, or related field. 


• Minimum five years of experience working with children and families. 


• Demonstrated experience in outdoor pedagogy, environmental education, recreation programming, or nature-based learning. 


• Experience coaching, mentoring, and facilitating adult learning. 


• Strong communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills. 


• Alberta Child Care Certification (Level 1, 2, or 3) is preferred. 


• Ability to travel between YMCA locations; reliable vehicle required. 


• Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening required. 

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Northern Alberta is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees and volunteers reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work and volunteer. We offer meaningful opportunities to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 100 years of providing opportunities for people to shine! Our Y serves tens of thousands of people each year through programs and services like health and fitness, licensed child care, day camps, mental health, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families and seniors.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Inclusion has power, and we take strides to create a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone can belong. Diverse teams unleash new ideas, and employees thrive in a culture that recognizes and appreciates the unique perspectives and backgrounds of others. Through our differences in how we think and act we can form innovative and effective teams and deliver organizational success.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about an opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Prior to your first day and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.